Lubricator for air-brake pumps



PATENTED JAN. 5, 1904.

T. M. HENDERSON. LUBRIGATOR FOR AIRIBRAKE PUMPS.

' APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 27, 1902.-

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

R0 MODEL.

Witnesses "m: scams Pawns co. moraumo. wAsNmm-rm, D. 4:v

I PATENTED J N. 5, 1904.

T. M; HENDERSON.

: LUBRIOATOR FOR AIR BRAKE PUMPS.

2 SHEET$-SHEET 2.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 27,,1902'.

N0 MODEL.

haajllfiezuierson U ITED STATES I iatented January 5, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

THOMASMARSH HENDERSON, OF PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA ASSIGNOR OF TVVO-THIRDS TO CHARLES PADDOGK STORES, OF WILMINGTON, DELA- -WARE, AND ROBERT RANDOLPH HICKS, OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.

LUBRICATOR FOR AIR-BRAKE PUiVlPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 748,731, dated January 5, 1904.

Application filed June 27, 1902. Serial lilo. 113,524. (No model.)

To (tZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS MARSH HEN- DERSON, a citizen of the United States, resid ing at Portsmouth, in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia, have inventeda certain new and useful Lubricator for Air-Brake Pumps, of which the following is-a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to lubricators for airbrake pumps, the object in view being to pro vide simple, effective, and reliable means forand burning oil is obviated and incidentally thereto the scab or accumulation which forms around the valve and steam-ports. The invention is designed to increase the life of the piston-packing and prevent the same from burning out rapidly, as is now the case.

With the above and other objects in view, the nature of which will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a locomotive, showing the air-pumpand the lubricating and 3 5 air filtering devices associated therewith. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the regulating-valve and connections. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the regulating-valve and connections. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail elevation. of the lubricating or piston-moistening devices. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail elevation of .the regulating-valve.

Like reference nurnerals designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the steam-cylinder of an ordinary air-brake pump,

such as is used on locomotives for compression of air in a storage-tank (indicated at 2) preparatory to using the same in applying the brakes.

3 represents the air-cylinder, in which operates the usual air-compressing piston, the

tion ofthe exhaust-steam from the cylinder 1 is taken through a pipe 6 and allowed to pass into the casing 7 of a regulating-valve 8, preferably conical in shape and cooperating with a valve-seat 9. The stem of the I valve Sis threaded, as shown at 10, and thereby made adjustable in one end of the val'vecasing, so that the amount of exhaust-steam passing through the valve-casing may be nicely adjusted. The valve-stem also passes through a stuffing-box 11 and is provided at its outer end with a pointer or indicator 12, which is movable around the notched or graduated edge portion 13 of a dial 145, arranged at one end of the valve-casing 7, as best illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. In this way the valve can be accurately adjusted so as to admit the desired amount of exhauststeam through the connections to the air-cylinder 3 of the pump.

Extending downward from the valve-casing 7 is a tubular extension or valve-chamher 15, the lower end of which is closed by a coupling-nut 16, surrounding the valve-adjusting nut 17, which is threaded upon a steam-jet pipe 18, as shown in Fig3 3. The not 17 forms a rest or seat for a check-valve 19, which is substantially cylindrical and has a conical upper end port-ion 20, which works against a correspondingly shaped valve-seat formed adjacent to an outlet-port 22 in the valve-casing 7. The lower portion of the check-valve is made hollow and the edge thereof provided with a plurality of notches 23 of unequal size, through which the exhaust-steam passes into the pipe 18,

sufficient space being left around the valve for the passage of the steam. The valve is left free to turn in its casing, and the notches form shoulders against which the steam acts while passing through the notches and around the valve. By reason of the fact that some of the notches are larger than others the steam acts to partially rotate or oscillate the valve, thus keeping the same in perfect working order. By means of the adjusting-nut 17 the throw or movement of the valve 19 may be regulated. From the steam-jet pipe 18 a branch pipe or elbow 24 extends to and enters the upper portion of the air-cylinder 3, as shown in Fig. 1, thereby admitting to the air-cylinder a small jet of exhaust-steam at each complete movement or stroke of the air-piston. In this way suificient moisture is admitted to the air-cylinder to prevent the piston-packing from becoming dry and burning outa difficulty which is veryfrequently encountered in air-brake pumps.

25 represents a test-cock for enabling the engineer to tell at any time whether or not sufficient exhaust-steam is being admitted to the air-cylinder 3.

26 represents a drain-cock for draining off the contents of the steam-cylinder 1 when ever necessary, said drain-cock being associated with an elbow 27, which com municates directly with the valve-casing 7, while the test-cock 25 is located at the lower end of the steam-jet pipe 18, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

The air after leaving the pump-cylinder is conducted through pipe 34 into an air-filter comprising liquid and drying chambers 28 and 29, having their adjacent ends connected with a coupling-head having flanges 31, between which is received a clamping-band 33, which embraces the pump-cylinder and holds the air-filter in place thereon. The chambers 28 and 29 are connected by a pipe 41, made in sections and coupled together at 47. The air-filter is also provided with a drain-cock 38. The air after leaving the filter passes through pipe 43, which is controlled by a valve 44:, and thence to the storage tank or reservoir 2.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that at each full movement of the steam-piston a small portion of exhaust-steam is admitted through the jet-pipe into the upper portion of the air-cylinder, with the result that the inner wall of said cylinder and the piston-packing are kept moist and the heating of the packing prevented. This also has the effect of keeping the air-valves clean and all the air appliances in good working condition. It is unnecessary to oil the brakevalves and air-piston, as by actual test it has been shown that the pump will operate satisfactorily for a period of from three to six months without attention. By means of the pointer and dial the regulating-valve may be adjusted so as to supply just the right amount of exhaust-steam to the air-cylinder to keep the piston in working condition. Should the piston-packing become too dry, the regulating-valve may be opened up to admit an excess of steam for a short time until the packing becomes thoroughly moistened, whereupon the regulating-valve may be again set to admit the desired amount of exhauststeam for a long trip.

It will of course be understood that the device hereinabove described is susceptible of changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction, which may accordingly be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention, and also that the principles of the invention may be applied to other devices besides air-brakes.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with the air-cylinder of an air-brake pump, of an exhaust-steam pipe leading from the steam-cylinder into the body of the air-cylinder, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination with the air-cylinder of an air-brake pump, of an exhaust-steam pipe leading from the steam-cylinderinto the body of the air-cylinder, and means for regulating the passage of exhaust-steam through said pipe.

3. The combination with the air-cylinder of an air-brake pump, of an exhaust-steamjet pipe leading from the steam-cylinder of the pump into the body of the air-cylinder, a valve-casing associated with said pipe, a regulating-valve mounted in said casing, and a visual valve-adjusting device, substantially as described.

4:. The combination with an air brake pump, of an exhaust-steam pipe leading from the steam-cylinder to the air-cylinder, a regulating-valve for controlling said pipe, and a test-cock in communication with said exhaust-steam pipe, substantially as described.-

5. The combination with an air brake pump, of an exhaust-steam pipe leading from the steam-cylinder to the air-cylinder, a controlling-valve for said exhaust-steam pipe, and a drain-cock connected with the casing of said controlling-valve, substantially'as described.

6. The combination with an air brake pump, of an exhaust-steam pipe leading from the stea ni-cylinder to the air-cylinder, a regulating-valve controlling said pipe, and an automatic check-valve arranged within said pipe, substantially as described.

7. The combination with an air brake pump, of an exhaust-steam pipe leading from the steam-cylinder to the air-cylinder, a regulating-valve controlling said pipe, and a selfadjusting check-valve arranged in said pipe and provided with notches in the edge poring steam-ports, and an adjusting-nut for :0 tion thereof, substantially as and for the purregulating the throw of said check-valve, subpose specified. stantially as described. 8. Ehe combination with an air brake In testimony whereof I affix my signature 5 pump, of an exhaust-steam pipe leading from in presence of two Witnesses.

the steam-cylinder to the air-cylinder, a regu-' THOMAS MARSH HENDERSON. latingwalve controlling said pipe, an auto- Witnesses:

matic check-valve arranged in the pipe and R. RANDOLPH HICKS,

provided with notehes of unequal size form- E. R. J OYNER. 

